Station-platform for railways.



1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.EMIL DE RYSS, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

STATION-PLATFORM FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent:

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application filed. March 21, 1912. Serial No. 685,373.

not limited to that use. a

At stations which arebuilt on a curve of the track, the edge of the station platform must for structural reasons be arranged in such a manner that a gap or space appears between the curved edge'of the platform and the edge portions of the car platforms when the train stops at the proper place at the station. Similar conditions might arise when a station is built on a straight line track if the track is built, for some reason, at a substantial distance from the edge of the platform. Many accidents arise at such stations owing to the fact that the persons boarding or getting ofl the train do not notice in due time the gap or space between the car platforms and the edge of the station platform. It has been proposed heretofore to arrange at such stations socalled emergency platforms, which are usually actuated by a station attendant, and serve to bridge over or close the gap between the train and the station platform. As far as known, these emergency platforms usually move in directions at right angles to the edge of the station platform, and the entire structure is liable to be broken if the train starts before the attendant withdraws the same.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide simple and efiicient auxiliary platforms for bridging over the gaps between cars of the train and the station platform, which are automatically caused to return to their normal inoperative positions by an outmoving trainfif the station attendant does notbring them into such positions before the train starts to move out of the station.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fully appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thecombination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Two of the many possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, somewhat diagrammat c, of two of the auxiliary platforms with the actuating means for all;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing one of the auxiliary platforms both in its operative and inoperative positions; Fig. 3 is a trans verse section of said platform; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the actuating means of the auxillary platform; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4;

and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified actuating means.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates an overhang platform, the edge 11 of which is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings in dotted lines, and constructed to conform to the curvature of the track. Below the overhang of the platform are fixedly attached to the structure a plurality of brackets 12, in each of which is oscillatably mounted a bolt 13. To these bolts are keyed or otherwise attached arms 14,- 14, which are made for structural reasons of two sections 15 and 16, bolt-ed together at 17. To these arms are pivoted at 18 along their outer edges 19 auxiliary platforms 20, in the form of plates, their inner ends resting upon the spherical heads 21 of studs 22, 22, which are fastened in any suitable manner to the sections 16 of the arms 14. To the lower ends of the bolts 13 are keyed, or otherwise attached, levers 23, 23, which are arranged at an angle to the arms 14, 14. To the free ends of these levers are pivoted at 21 links 25, which are in a similar manner secured at 26 to caps 27 27. These caps are rigidly fastened by means of clamping screws 28, 28, or otherwise, to a rod29, which is slid-. ably arranged in bearings 30, 30, the latter being attached to the platform below its overhang, for instance by means of screws 31, 31. The rod'29 extends along the plat form of the station and is connected with as many auxiliary platforms at a station the longest train which the station platform is adapted to accommodate may require. It should be noted that the stop target of the station is arranged relative to the auxiliary platforms in such a manner that when the first car or motor car stops at the target, said auxiliary platforms will be in nearly registering positions with the car platforms. Normally the auxiliary platforms are arranged below the overhang 10 of the station platform, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These positions may be termed the normal inoperative positions of the auxiliary platforms. Then extended, an auxiliary platform will occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which case the arms 14 will extend substantially at right angles to the tangents of the railroad track at these points, or, if the track is a straight one, in lines at right angles to the center line of the same. The extended position may be termed the operative position.

The rod 29 is connected pivotally at 32 with a connecting link 33, which latter is in a similar manner secured at 3% to a substantially vertical two-armed lever 35. This lever is fulcrumed at 36 to a bracket 37, which is fastened in any suitable manner to the wall 38 of the sub-way, or to any other suit able support. To the free end of the lever 35 is secured a shifting bar 39, which is within the reach of the operator on the station platform or at any other suitable point of the station.

The operation of the device is as follows: The normal position of one of the emergency platforms is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As soon as an incoming train comes to stop at the proper place, the station attendant shifts the bar 39 in the direction of the movement of the train, whereby the lower end of the lever 35 will move around its fulcrum 36 in an opposite direction, and shift thereby the rod 29, by which movement the auxiliary platforms will be brought into their operative positions shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thereby bridging over or closing the gap between the edge of a station platform and those of the cars. After the doors of the train have been closed and the signal for the departure thereof is given, the station attendant shifts the bar 39 in a direction opposite to the movement of the train, whereby the several parts are caused to assume their normal positions, that is to say the auxiliary platforms are stored below the overhang of the station platform. From an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that in order to bring the auxiliary platforms below the overhang of the platform, the said platforms are swung around the bolts 13 in the direction of the movement of the train. Should, therefore, the station attendant forget to bring the platforms into their normal positions below the overhang, the outmoving train will restore the same to their normal positions in that the sides of the car will shift them into such positions. hen the next incoming train stops at the'platform, the attendant shifts again the bar 39 in the direction of the movement of the train. The fact that the platforms were restored by an outgoing train to their normal positions does not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the apparatus.

Instead of actuating the lever 35 by hand power, the same may be actuated, for instance, by compressed air, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. For this purpose, of course, any suitable device may be used, the one in Fig. 6 having been shown for purposes of illustration only. In this case a cylinder 40 is provided, the piston rod 41 of which is pivotally connected by a link 42 with the lever 35. Compressed air is conducted to the cylinder through a pipe 43.

This apparatus may be actuated from a dis tant point, for instance by means of electric devices which are used to open and close the valves governing the admission and outflow of the compressed air to and from the cylinder 40.

lVhat I claim is 1. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a plate pivotally attached to said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, and means connected with said arms adapted to be actuated from the station for causing said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position.

2. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a plate pivotally attached near to the outer ends of said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, and means connected with said arms adapted to be actuated from the station for causing said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position.

3. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang,

a plate pivotally attached to said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between thestation platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, a rod shiftably mountedunder said overhang and operatively connected with all of said arms, and means connected with said rod adapted to be operated from the station for causing said rod to be shifted and thereby said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position.

4. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a plate pivotally attached near to the outer ends of said arms, said plate being normally held under' said overhang, but being adapted to project beyondthe same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, a rod shift-ably mounted under said overhang and operativelyconnected with all of said arms, and means connected with said rod adapted to be operated from the stat-ion for causing said rod to be shifted and thereby said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position.

5. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a plate pivotally attached to said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, and means connected with said arms adapted to be actuated from the station for causing said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position, said plate when being shifted into its operative position moving in a direction opposite to the motion of the train and being adapted to be restored to its normal position below said overhang by the outgoing train.

6. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a

plate pivotally attached near to the outer ends of said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the the station for causing said arms to project I beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position, said plate when being shifted into its operative position moving in a direction opposite to the motion of the train and being adapted to be restored to its normal position below said overhang by the outgoing train.

7. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a plate pivotally attached to said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, a rod shiftably mounted under said overhang and operatively connected with all of said arms, and means connected with said rod adapted to be operated from the station for causing said rod to be shifted and thereby said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position, said plate when being shifted into its operative position moving in a direction opposite to the motion of the train and being adapted to be restored to its normal position below said overhang by the outgoing train.

8. The combination with the overhang of a station platform, of a plurality of arms oscillatably mounted below said overhang, a plate pivotally attached near to the outer ends of said arms, said plate being normally held under said overhang, but being adapted to project beyond the same to bridge over the gap between the station platform and the platform of a car when said arms are held substantially at right angles to the tangents of the track, a rod shiftably mounted under said overhang and operatively connected with all of said arms, and means connected with said rod adapted to be operated from the station for causing said rod to be shifted and thereby said arms to project beyond said overhang and said plate to move into its operative position, said plate when being shifted into its operative position moving in a direction opposite to the motion of the train and being adapted to be restored to its normal position below said overhang by the out-going train.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 12th day of March, A. D. 1912.

EMIL DE RYSS Witnesses SIGMU-ND Hnnzoe, S. BIRNBAUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of: Patents, Washington, D. G. 

